Introduction
The Teaching Council is responsible for regulating the teaching profession in Ireland. Its role is to protect the public by promoting and regulating professional standards in teaching.
The Teaching Council registers new teachers, and renews the registration of current teachers, provided they meet certain requirements set out in the Teaching Council Act 2001 (as amended) (which we refer to as the Act) and regulations made by the Teaching Council under the Act.
The Teaching Council is proposing to make new regulations. These regulations (the “proposed registration regulations”) will replace the existing registration regulations, being the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 444 of 2016), as amended.
The Teaching Council has undertaken a periodic review of the existing registration regulations and has proposed a number of changes in line with the Teaching Council’s objectives of maintaining the standards of teaching and regulating the teaching profession.
Many of the registration requirements under the existing registration regulations will remain the same. However, we are proposing to make some amendments in areas including the following:
In order to register with the Teaching Council, an applicant must submit an application for registration to the Teaching Council. There is certain documentation that an applicant must submit as part of their application for registration. The proposed registration regulations introduce new requirements and amend existing requirements regarding information and documentation that an applicant must submit.
The same applies for teachers who apply for renewal of registration. The proposed registration regulations introduce new requirements regarding the documentation and information an applicant is required to submit as part of their application for renewal of registration.
- In order to be eligible for registration with the Teaching Council, applicants must satisfy qualification requirements. The current qualification requirements for registration are set out in the existing registration regulations. The majority of the qualification requirements remain the same, however, there are some amendments.
- An applicant can apply for registration with the Teaching Council under various “routes”. For example, if an applicant wants to teach as a primary school teacher, they will make an application for registration via Route 1 Primary. There are different ways an applicant can apply for registration under the various routes. The options available under the different routes largely remain the same. However, under the proposed registration regulations, there are some small amendments.
- When a teacher has registered with the Teaching Council, they are issued with a certificate of registration. Certain information is contained on the certificate. Under the proposed registration regulations, certain amendments are being made to the information which will be contained on the certificate of registration.
- The Teaching Council is responsible for maintaining a register of teachers. If an applicant is registered with the Teaching Council, certain information will be entered onto the Register. The information contained on the Register will largely remain the same under the proposed registration regulations. However, some amendments are proposed.
Please find a copy of the proposed registration regulations here.
Proportionality
Directive (EU) 2018/958 (which we will refer to as the Proportionality Directive) requires a proportionality assessment to be carried out by EU Member States before the introduction of a professional regulatory provision. A professional regulatory provision is a new, or the amendment of an existing, legislative, regulatory or administrative provision that restricts access to, or the pursuit of, a regulated profession. Teaching is a regulated profession in Ireland.
The Proportionality Directive was transposed into Irish law by the European Union (Regulated Professions Proportionality Assessment) Regulations 2022 (S.I No. 413 of 2022) (which we will refer to as the Proportionality Regulations).
A proportionality assessment on the proposed registration regulations is necessary. As part of this proportionality assessment, the Teaching Council is issuing a survey inviting stakeholders’ views. The responses to the survey questions will assist with this proportionality assessment.
How to participate in the consultation
Please read the easy read summary below for an overview of the proposed registration regulations.
If you wish to engage with the Teaching Council’s proportionality assessment of the proposed registration regulations, please complete the survey questions at Sections 1 to 4 of this short online survey here. The survey is also linked at the bottom of this page. The survey questions refer to many of the additional or new requirements set out in the proposed registration regulations.
In addition to seeking stakeholders’ views on the proportionality of the proposed registration regulations, we are also seeking general comments and observations from stakeholders on the proposed registration regulations. If you would like to give general feedback only, please complete Section 1 and Section 5 at the end of the online survey here. Please read the survey questions at Sections 2 to 4 as they may assist you in identifying the changes being made, but do not answer them if you do not wish to engage with the Teaching Council’s proportionality assessment. To help the Teaching Council engage most effectively with stakeholder views, we would ask that submissions under Section 5 are limited to 1,000 words. A report of the public consultation will be prepared by the Teaching Council.
Survey Format
- About You
Section 1 (Questions 1 – 5)
- Proportionality Assessment
Section 2 to 4 (Questions 6 – 19)
- General feedback
Section 5 (Question 20)
Any personal information submitted to the Teaching Council will be treated strictly in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 and the Data Protection Act 2018. Please note information received can be sought under the Freedom of Information Act 2014 and may be released in response to an FOI request. Any personal information included in this survey will be redacted prior to release.
Easy-to-read summary of the regulations
Proposed Registration Regulations
Consultation Survey
The public consultation period is now live for submissions. The closing date is 27 September 2024.
To take part in the consultation, please click on the survey link below.
Queries
For further queries, please contact regulationsconsultation@teachingcouncil.ie